Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a condition where vision is blurred at distance but typically clear at a close range.
This occurs because the eye is either too steep or too long, and light gets focused in front of the retina instead of directly onto the retina, resulting in a blurry image.
How prevalent is myopia?
Approximately 30% of school-age children are nearsighted – a number which has increased significantly over the past several decades.
How does myopia change over time?
While difficult to predict, myopia generally progresses during school years and stabilizes in the early or mid-twenties.
How do NaturalVue contact lenses control myopia?
NaturalVue contact lenses have been shown to reduce myopic progression by a range of 40-70%. They work by creating peripheral defocus (blur in the peripheral retina), which acts a signal to stop retinal growth and slow the progression of nearsightedness.
What other options are out there?
OrthoKeratology involves the use of a hard contact lens overnight, which reshapes the cornea and creates clear vision during the day. It works similar to wearing a retainer at night to maintain straight teeth.
Atropine Therapy involves instilling an eyedrop into each eye daily. Atropine 0.01% is a diluted dilation drop which is not thought to cause any blurriness or light sensitivity.
